The Bowral Classic is thrilled to announce that Olympian and cycling champion Conor Leahy will be joining us for this year’s event! Hailing from Western Australia, Conor’s meteoric rise in the cycling world has made him one of Australia’s most exciting athletes, and we couldn’t be more excited to welcome him to the Southern Highlands for the 2024 Bowral Classic.
Conor’s Journey
Conor’s cycling journey began in 2014, and it wasn’t long before his talents were recognised claiming bronze in both the team and individual pursuit at the Oceania Championships in 2017. His breakthrough moment came in 2018 when he clinched victory over Luke Plapp in the individual pursuit final, securing his first Oceania Championship title—an achievement he defended in 2019.
In the years that followed, Conor’s career continued to soar. In 2019, he added an Oceania team pursuit title to his resume and earned a bronze medal at the UCI World Cup in Hong Kong. His dominance grew even further with his first national individual pursuit title in 2020, marking the start of his reign at both the national and international levels. However, it was 2022 when he truly made his mark on the world stage. At his third consecutive national individual pursuit title, Conor shattered Jack Bobridge’s decade-old Australian record.
That same year, he teamed up with Josh Duffy to win the madison at both the Australian and Oceania Championships. He also played a pivotal role in Australia’s victories at the Oceania and Nations Cup team pursuit events, including gold at the UCI Track Nations Cup in Milton, Canada.
Enter the 2022 Commonwealth Games, where he captured bronze in both the team and individual pursuit events. His dominance in the individual pursuit extended through 2024, securing his fifth consecutive national title and making him the only Australian to ever record a sub-4:10 time in the event – wow!
2024 has proved to be another major milestone in Conor’s career. Selected for his first Olympic Games in Paris, Conor, alongside Sam Welsford, Kell O’Brien, and Oliver Bleddyn, not only broke the world record in the team pursuit but also claimed the Olympic gold medal, solidifying his status as a cycling legend.
Catch Conor at the 2024 Bowral Classic
Highlanders, you’ll have an Olympian in the pack! Conor will be taking on the Maxi Classic this October 20th, and you can catch up with him in the Event Village for a very special Q&A session. We are incredibly honored to have Conor Leahy join us, so whether you’re riding the course or cheering from the sidelines, don’t miss the chance to meet one of Australia’s finest athletes and Olympic gold medalist.
You can keep up with Conor over on his instagram.
